THE two players at the centre of the Christmas Party row that heaped disgrace on Manchester City will know their fates within the next 36 hours.

Club director and deputy chairman Bryan Bodek, who has been conducting an internal investigation along with secretary Bernard Halford, will meet first team regular Joey Barton and reserve team player Jamie Tandy at a specially convened meeting today.

Tandy accused 22-year-old Barton of poking a lit cigar into his eye whilst the former England Under-21 international claims it was an accident after he jumped up when his shirt had been set alight.

The most likely outcome following Sunday's now infamous fancy dress bash at Manchester nightspot Lucid is that both will - as exclusively revealed in yesterday's M.E.N Sport - receive heavy fines based on their basic wages. In the senior man's case this will run to a figure close to '100,000 - a club record fine.

Bodek, a lawyer by profession who is responsible for City's disciplinary issues, will now re-interview the two players after his thorough three-day inquiry reached a conclusion. Both Barton and teenager Tandy are expected to be represented by their agents.

During the course of his internal investigation Bodek has spoken at length to no fewer than TEN players and other guests who were at the nightclub. Several have admitted that a fair amount of alcohol had been consumed at the club. City have not yet decided whether to ask for bar receipts.

Inquiry

Despite his troubles Barton is fully expected to take his place in the side at Everton on Boxing Day if boss Kevin Keegan selects him. The manager will let the inquiry do its job and study its findings before making any decision. If the players do not agree with the punishment meted out by the Bodek they will have the right to appeal.

Neither player was available for comment after the Blues told them both to remain silent on the issue.

Barton is already understood to have apologised to club officials for the incident that put City in such a poor light.

Wythenshawe-born Tandy, who needed hospital treatment after the incident, must also wait to see if he will receive a new deal at the end of this season when his present deal runs out.

Barton put his name to a lucrative contract earlier this term that will see him with the Blues for the rest of this season and two more.

The club hierarchy will meet again at a future date to discuss whether or not to ban future parties after this year's event also attracted an attack by a fan on star striker Nicolas Anelka and his friends. Police have not been involved in either incident.

PFA chairman Gordon Taylor has already warned his members about the pitfall of such gatherings.

"No one wants to dampen celebrations over Christmas but sometimes incidents like this are an accident waiting to happen," he declared.

"In all walks of life people have Christmas parties and in all walks of life you have incidents like this but the players have to recognise that as footballers they have a profile and people will be quick to seize on anything. It is difficult to say ban Christmas parties but the players have to keep things in proportion.

"The sad thing for us as the PFA is that 99 per cent of professionals have no problems. We have to teach young players about their responsibilities and warn them about the dangers of alcohol and their general behaviour."

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